| LASER REFRACTIVE SURGERY
Are you ready to get rid of your glasses and contacts for good? Call for your free laser vision consultation!
Thanks to advances in laser technology, there are many safe surgical vision correction procedures available today. And Dr. Vosseteig is not only aware of these advances, he's certified in the Comanagement of refractive laser surgery.
If you would like to explore the procedures that can be performed, we can test your eyes to see if your vision can be surgically corrected so you can see without the need for glasses or contacts. Should you elect to have the surgery, we'll work with you before and after. In fact, all of your postoperative visits are included in our one-time fee. In the event that you may temporarily require prescription lenses after the procedure, we'll provide them for you, free of charge.
Why vision correction surgery?
Certain vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism can be reduced or eliminated surgically. These vision problems occur when the eye is not able to bring images to a proper focus inside the eye. Vision correction surgery involves techniques that correct or reduce these problems by reshaping the surface of the cornea. To correct nearsightedness, the curvature is flattened; to correct farsightedness, the curvature is steepened. To correct astigmatism, the cornea is reshaped producing a more evenly curved surface.
Why choose 20/20 Vision Clinic?
There are so many places doing refractive surgery, why should you choose us to provide this service. First of all, Dr. Vosseteig is not a surgeon. This is a benefit to you because he will not be biased or misleading to you in any way regarding his experience and outcomes regarding LASIK. What's best for you is also best for him. In other words, a good outcome for you makes the follow-up care much more straightforward and rewarding for Dr. Vosseteig as well. If you're not happy, he is not as well. Dr. Vosseteig has the advantage of being able to choose whomever he feels will do the best job for you as a patient. He is affiliated with only those centers that put quality and safety first.
A number of low-cost centers have arisen that I would briefly caution you about. Very simply put, like most things . . . you get what you pay for. There is a difference between centers. These centers may typically: lack experienced doctors, they may not provide postoperative care, they may only have 1 or 2 year enhancement policies at no charge, they likely aren't using a state-of-the-art laser, lack a medically trained surgical staff, not have fees as low as you think once they see your prescription, and others. Please discuss this important decision with Dr. Vosseteig before making a decision without all the facts. Remember, laser surgery is like buying a parachute, you don't always want to buy the cheapest one! If you're still not convinced that these inexpensive centers may not be the best, please visit this unbiased website as you're browsing; it has a great section on why you most likely don't want to use the lowest priced center in the area. www.refractivesource.com
All laser surgeons that Dr. Vosseteig co-manages with have been extensively educated in all aspects of laser vision correction and are all fellowship trained cornea specialists. Equally important and critical to the outcome of your laser procedure are the pre and post-procedure stages, which include your consultation appointment, collection of accurate information, your education throughout the process and finally, your follow-up care.
The success of your laser procedure is dependent not only on the expertise of your surgeon, but also on the safety, accuracy, and sophistication of the equipment used. Our affiliated laser centers use only FDA approved excimer cold lasers to achieve the best results in the safest way possible. A corneal topographer is used to test your vision, measure the degree of your visual problem, and create a map of the surface of your eye. Almost 8,000 separate points on the eye are measured. The information from your eye exam is used to program the state-of-the-art computer software, which calculates the required corneal change and then helps the laser make this change. Your surgeon programs and operates the laser, maintaining control throughout your procedure.
The excimer laser.
The excimer laser was developed in 1976 by IBM to etch computer microchips. It was first used for the eyes in Europe in 1988. A laser contains a device to create light in a similar manner as a light bulb, but more sophisticated and precise. With an excimer laser, when an electric current is passed through a tube containing a special gas (argon fluoride), a reaction occurs that produces ultraviolet light energy. The direction, focal point, intensity and release of the light from the tube are precisely controlled by the surgeon and a computer. The light passes through a system of mirrors that result in all the light rays traveling in one direction (coherent light), and focuses the energy to a fine point. As the light gets closer to the focal point, the energy becomes more concentrated and the beam gains strength. Laser light reaches its maximum strength at the focal point, the point where all the rays converge. The strength of the beam rapidly diminishes after passing the focal point, and can no longer affect adjacent tissue in the eye , making it a very safe procedure.
The excimer laser is so precise that each pulse only removes 39 millionths of an inch of tissue in 12 billionths of a second. It would take 200 pulses to just cut through a human strand of hair!
The LASIK procedure.
A special instrument (a microkeratome) is applied to the cornea, creating a thin flap of corneal tissue. The flap remains attached to the eye at one end. Next, the laser is used to reshape the cornea. The flap is then put back into position and the procedure is complete.
For Myopia, either a narrow diameter beam that slowly expands
as shown above, or a scanning beam is used to produce
a tiny lens-shaped disc on the surface of the cornea.
LASIK is performed on an outpatient basis using an eye drop anesthetic to numb the eye for painless surgery. It normally takes less than 30 minutes and the patient leaves shortly after the procedure. An eye patch may be placed on the eye for temporary protection and to keep you from rubbing your eye in your sleep. Medication drops are used for pain relief, to prevent infection and promote healing. After LASIK, patients usually return to their normal lifestyle quickly with very few restrictions during the short healing period. "Functional" vision is usually obtained within 1 to 3 days.
Am I a candidate for laser refractive surgery?
You are a good candidate if . . .
- You are nearsighted (myopic), farsighted (hyperopic), or have astigmatism.
- Your eyes are in good health.
- Your vision is stable and you are at least 18 years old.
- You are in good general health.
- Corrective lenses (contact, eyeglasses) interfere with your occupation or the lifestyle you want to live
- You feel that you look better without glasses.
- You are contact lens intolerant.
- Your occupation does not allow you to wear contact lenses.
- You are tired of the frustrations associated with always having to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses.
What results can be expected?
Vision correction surgery has corrected or improved the vision of millions of people around the world. Studies show that over 95% of patients who have had this surgery are able to pass a standard driver's license eye exam (20/40 visual acuity or better) without corrective lenses. Although perfect vision after the surgery may be a likely result, not every patient will be able to achieve the ideal 20/20 vision. The results are also dependent on how bad one's initial prescription is; the worse it is to begin with, the more difficult it is to achieve optimal vision. An enhancement, or re treatment, may also be needed if less than optimal results are obtained after the initial treatment. The goal of vision correction surgery is to provide functional vision, and reduce your dependency on glasses or contact lenses. Since perfect vision is not always achievable, some patients may desire to wear corrective lenses after surgery for some activities. Refractive surgery is a choice you will make only after a complete medical eye examination and extensive counseling on the benefits and risks of the procedure.
Will I need glasses after the surgery if I'm over 40?
People who have presbyopia (see "I'm over 40 and I can't read well up close, Why?") and who choose vision correction surgery will probably need glasses for reading. However, by making a slight adjustment to the desired outcome of the procedure that corrects one eye for the distance and leaves the other eye corrected for reading, the dependency on reading glasses can be reduced. This technique is called monovision, and is seen commonly with contact lenses. There are some major limitations to this method, but again, it can work well for many people who are aware of the drawbacks. Dr. Vosseteig will review this option in detail with you before choosing this method.
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